Justice Stevens to leave while Obama in office

[DEDixon 39]

WASHINGTON – Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens says he "will surely" retire while President Barack Obama is still in office, giving the president the opportunity to maintain the high court's ideological balance.

Stevens said in newspaper interviews on the Web Saturday that he will decide soon on the timing of his retirement, whether it will be this year or next. Stevens, the leader of the court's liberals, turns 90 this month and is the oldest justice.

His departure would give Obama his second nomination to the court, enabling him to ensure there would continue to be at least four liberal-leaning justices. The high court is often split 5 to 4 on major cases, with the vote of moderate Justice Anthony Kennedy often deciding which side prevails.

"I will surely do it while he's still president," Stevens told The Washington Post.

But Stevens, who was named to the court by Republican President Gerald R. Ford in 1975, says he still loves the job, and says he continues to write the first draft of his own opinions.

Stevens says if it ever gets to point where he stopped doing that, it would be a sign he wasn't up to the job anymore.

Stevens is the second-oldest justice in the court's history, after Oliver Wendell Holmes. He is the seventh-longest-serving justice, with more than 34 years on the court.

Another liberal, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, had surgery last year for early-stage pancreatic cancer. While Ginsburg has been her usual energetic self, including frequent speaking engagements and a teaching stint in Europe, long-term survival rates for pancreatic cancer are low.

Ginsburg, 77, has said she intends to serve into her early 80s, and she has hired her clerks for the court term that begins in October 2010.

Justices are reluctant to retire in bunches, mainly because they want the nine-member court as close to full strength as possible.

Stevens also is nearing two longevity records. When he joined the court, he replaced the longest-serving justice, William O. Douglas, and would need to serve until mid-July 2012 to top that service record. He would surpass Holmes as the oldest sitting justice if he were to remain on the court until Feb. 24, 2011.

"I do have to fish or cut bait, just for my own personal peace of mind and also in fairness to the process," Stevens told The New York Times. "The president and the Senate need plenty of time to fill a vacancy."

i didn't post this for the obama part of it, but instead for the age part. if a 90 year old is still serving, how hard can the job really be? mentally and physically. it has to make you wonder... makes me wonder. ginsburg already looks near death, but says she'll continue into her early 80s? wow, these people don't really make a lot of money, but they must be catered to in a lot of other ways to stay on the job so long.

[scandal 951]

i didn't post this for the obama part of it, but instead for the age part. if a 90 year old is still serving, how hard can the job really be? mentally and physically. it has to make you wonder... makes me wonder. ginsburg already looks near death, but says she'll continue into her early 80s? wow, these people don't really make a lot of money, but they must be catered to in a lot of other ways to stay on the job so long.[/b]

They make just over $200K apiece.

It's one of the most prestigious things you can do in American public life. I can see them wanting to stick around and be present for further sessions of game-changing rulings, who wouldn't?

[DEDixon 39]

just sayin, must be an easy/no stress job if 90 year olds can handle it.

just love those 90 year old senators too... they sure have a lot to offer.

[justashooter 430]

i didn't post this for the obama part of it, but instead for the age part. if a 90 year old is still serving, how hard can the job really be? mentally and physically. it has to make you wonder... makes me wonder. ginsburg already looks near death, but says she'll continue into her early 80s? wow, these people don't really make a lot of money, but they must be catered to in a lot of other ways to stay on the job so long.

if you read justice steven's comments in oral argument and try to follow his logic you understand that he is already past his prime. same thing for ginsberg. both of them are well educated, but they both get hung up on minute tangential points that are often irrelevant to the question under discussion. clearly they have well educated law clerks to prepare their arguments, but i sometimes wonder if they even understand the preparation.

[mawilson 2,133]

Well, this changes nothing, as he'll likely replace one liberal with another.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Well, this changes nothing, as he'll likely replace one liberal with another.

and another undeserving of the position as well. We all know how race and sex matter more than credentials to this man.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I guess its a good thing that Supreme Court appointments are subject to scrutiny.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

I guess its a good thing that Supreme Court appointments are subject to scrutiny.

thanks. needed that laugh.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well, Harriet Myers didn't get confirmed into the SCOTUS did she.

[The_Dude 1,142]

and another undeserving of the position as well. We all know how race and sex matter more than credentials to this man.

You really think that Sotomayor was not qualified for the supreme court? Sorry to inform you, but not agreeing with your point of view is not a disqualifying factor.